Sealing device for air-tight vessels.



PATENTED JUNE '30, 1908.

W. G. WILGOX.

SEALING DEVICE FOR AIR TIGHT VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1907- jzueiz 2 02" WALTON G. WILCOX, OF CLOVERLY, WYOMING.

SEALING DEVICE FOR AIR-TIGHT VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed August 22, 1907. Serial No. 389,751.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, WALTON G. WILCOX, citizen of the United States, residing at Cloverly, in the county of Bighorn and State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Sealing Devices for Air-Tight essels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can closures, and has s ecial-reference to a device adapted to be so dered to a can-cover and over a dis charge hole or vent in said cover, and adapted to be torn from over such vent without being detached entirely from said cover.

. The object of the invention is to provide a novel and peculiar device adapted to be soldered or otherwise fixed to a can-cover for closing or sealing a discharge hole in the cover, and ada ted to form a ouring-spout and a hanger or an opening ey, in sealed or unsealed position.

A further ob 'ect of the invention is to provide a novel and peculiar key for operating the sealing device, and adapted to be emloyed as a stopper for a pouring-hole or vent 1n the can-cover.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this appl1cation:-Figure 1 is a top View of a can showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a can-cover showing (in dotted lines) the key applied as a stopper, and the sealing device as a pouring-spout,"...,n the key-hanger or hook bent in position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sealing device. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5

is a perspective view of the ke The same reference numera s denote the same parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The cover 1, of the can 2-, has a raised portion 3, flush with the edge of the cover so as to be elevated slightly above the central surface of the cover, for the purpose hereinafter described. Said portion 3 has a d schargevent or hole 4, and a groove 5 leading from near said vent to the edge of the said portion toward the center of the can-cover. The said groove forms a guide for one prong of an opening key 6.

The sealing device is composed of thin sheet or flexible metal and comprises a plate 7, having a lip 8, which projects from the raised portion 3, when the plate is soldered over the vent 4.; two slits 9 partly separate the plate from a pair of ears 10, to permit the sides of the plate to be bent away from the ears, after the plate is bent into position perpendicular to the can-cover, to form a pourin spout 11. The ears are permanently so dered or otherwise fixed to the top of the can-cover, and the ears have a tongue 12 projecting centrally therefrom. The part of the tongue nearest the ears is attached to the rim of the cover-1, so as to leave a free end adapted to be bent into a key-hanger or hook 123.

The key 6 is conical and has a slot 14, dividing the key lengthwise into a short rong 15, and a long prong 16; the said slot eing of such length as to receive the lip 8, with the long prong reaching over on the late 7, while the short prong, which has a eveled end, is worked under the said li against the joint. There is suilicient sol ered conical portion of the key between the said slot and the handle 17, of the key to form a stopper for the vent when the latter is unsealed. Said handle is at an angle to the key body so as .to permit its being grasped for operating the key vertically over the top of the can-cover, by reason of the elevation of the portion 3, to break or tear the plate 7, from over the vent 4. The key handle has an elongation 18, by which the key may be hung from the hanger or hook 13. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device for closing and opening vents of air-tight cans, comprising a late of flexible metal adapted to form a c osure and a pouring-spout, a pair of securing, ears, a tongue projecting from the plate between the ears and forming a hook, and adapted tcl support a suitable key for operating the p ate.

2. The combination with an air-tight vessel having a vent, of a sealer or closure for Erising a plate soldered over the vent, and In testimony whereof I effix my signature aymg an inwszlrdly projteeltilg frtzg li i, ta, in presence'of two witnesses.

P8111 O ears par y se am e I'OIII 6 a e and fixed to the vessel i djacent said gent, WALTON WILCOX' 5 and a tongue having a portion fixed to the Witnesses:

Vessel and a ortion adapted to form a hook, I JEssE LTHoMPsoN,

said plate a apted to form a pouring spout. O. PENNYCUIOK. 

